Aedan's Super Bowl in East Haven strikes again for scholarship fund

Alexandra Sanders, Register Staff

Published
12:00 am EST, Thursday, February 2, 2012

BRANFORD -- While football fans are getting out their footballs and jerseys in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday, hundreds of locals are digging their bowling shoes out of the closet and shining up their bowling balls.

For many in town, the Super Bowl is a time to go bowling and remember Aedan Bloomquist, and it has been for the last 10 years. Bloomquist, 21, died in a car accident on Aug. 31, 2001, in North Haven and his family and friends created a fundraiser to help his memory live on through the Aedan Bloomquist Scholarship Fund.

Aedan's Super Bowl, a three hour bowling event, will be held Saturday at AMF Circle Lanes, 525 Main St., East Haven. A $20 donation will include bowling, shoe rental, a raffle and soda.

"Aedan was a football player but he used to like to bowl with his friends so we kind of combined the two things and came up with this," said Aedan's father, Gary Bloomquist.

The first fundraiser was held in 2003 and it has grown from there. The Bloomquists and their friends have raised more than $150,000 over the past 10 years and they have given out scholarships to about 56 students.

The fundraiser is perpetuated by his father; his mother, Karen Bloomquist; her brother, Mike Beauton; his wife, Karri; and Karen Bloomquist's mother, Regina Beauton.

"Especially in today's times, education is so valuable," said Beauton. "You have to turn (a tragedy) into a positive and in this case we put it toward education. It's a win-win for everybody."

Last year, six students received $3,000 for college as part of Aedan's scholarship fund. The scholarship is geared toward students going into a field that involves helping people, such as nursing or police work.

"More than anything, we want those students to represent the values that Aedan's represented like being a good person and being nice to people," said Gary Bloomquist. "Aedan is the type of person who was there for you if you needed help. Now Aedan is helping people still."

Aedan is also helping bring people together. More than 350 people will attend, including his friends from the Indian Neck/Pine Orchard Fire Co. 9, where he volunteered, his friends at Shipman's Fire Equipment Co. Inc. in Waterford, where he was a salesman, and his high school graduating class.

"The whole function brings my whole graduating class together, which is cool because we don't see each other anymore -- it's almost like a mini reunion," said Branford resident and local firefighter Mike Stackpole, who had been friends with Aedan since he was 5 years old. "(The event) is because of such a tragedy, but one person can still get us all together."

To sign up for the event or get more information, go to www.aedanssuperbowl.org. To make a donation, there is a link on the website or checks may be sent to the Aedan Bloomquist Scholarship Fund, care of Michael Beauton, 29 Eastwood Drive, Branford 06405.

Call Alexandra Sanders at 203-789-5714. Follow her on Twitter @asanders88. To receive breaking news first, text the word NHNEWS to 22700. *Msg+data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

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